Bombay Cat

The Bombay was created in Louisville, Kentucky by a breeder who wanted to produce a ‘parlour panther’ - in other words, a jet-black cat with stunning copper eyes and a lithe, muscular build. There is little doubt that the Bombay very much fits this brief!  

Ms Horner began her efforts in 1953 by breeding a black American Shorthair with a particularly strong eye colour, to a sable Burmese female. Through a long process of selective breeding, outcrossing and strict control over the line, she was able to consistently produce a striking black cat unlike any other.  

While a potential cat theft risk, access to a secure garden or purpose-built cat run will be appreciated. The Bombay will enjoy climbing and sunbathing, pouncing on leaves and lurking in hidey-holes, so be creative with your ‘catio furniture’ and enrichment opportunities. This is a striking looking cat that could be mistaken (at a distance and by the more whimsically minded) as a stray big-cat, so to avoid dramatic newspaper reports, or theft, it is best to keep your cat secure and not allow unsupervised outdoor access.  

The Bombay cat is clever and inventive, so owners will need to provide a wide range of toys, cat trees, and puzzles, and try to rotate which items are available so that none become boring. Bombay cats can be lead trained and taught to fetch, and a skilled slicker trainer could easily teach them a wide range of tricks and useful behaviours (teaching a cat to go into a cat carrier on cue is extremely useful for trips to the vet!). Without sufficient entertainment and enrichment from you, the Bombay is inclined to create their own fun - taking personal items and hiding them, and knocking things off high shelves, are some of their favourite options!  

Every cat is unique and each has their own particular likes, dislikes, and needs when it comes to food. However, cats are carnivores and every cat must obtain 41 different and  specific nutrients from their food. The proportion of these nutrients will vary depending on age, lifestyle, and overall health, so it's not surprising that a growing, energetic kitten needs a different balance of nutrients in her diet than a less active senior cat. Other considerations to bear in mind are feeding the right quantity of food to maintain 'ideal body condition' in accordance with feeding guidelines and catering to individual preference regarding wet or dry food recipes. As nutrition is very important in boosting their quality of life, if provided with proper diets and care, the Bombay cat lifespan can extend to 20 years. 

Whilst the Bombay is capable of grooming themselves, it is sensible to be in the habit of grooming your cat once a week to facilitate bonding and handling. A greasy coat is a sign your cat is not self-grooming at all and this may indicate poor health.  

As with all cats, regular vaccination and parasite control is recommended.  

For the family with time and older children who can respect a cat’s space, the Bombay is a great family pet. As with all cats, they may find a very hectic household somewhat stressful, and they do require someone to be at home for a good part of each day.